Section 319
NDNPDINT SOURCE PROGRAM SOGGESS STORY
Phosphorus Reductions Achieved in Sauk River Chain of Lakes
Waterbody Improved
The Sauk River Chain of Lakes is an interconnected system of
14 bay-like lakes fed by the Sauk River in Central Minnesota.
The Sauk River Chain of Lakes is impaired by phosphorus and total suspended solids due to
row cropping and livestock operations, as well as discharges from on-site septic systems.
Agricultural best management practices (BMPs) and upgrades to septic systems and munici-
pal wastewater treatment facilities throughout the Sauk River Chain of Lakes watershed
have reduced total phosphorus concentrations to 176 fjg/L—nearly achieving the regional
goal of 100-150/^g/L—representing a 48 percent decrease in total phosphorus loading.
Problem
Much of the watershed is intensely farmed
with row crops and livestock operations as
the main components of the economy. Over
the past 25 years, the area has experienced
continued growth as a popular recreation area.
The transformation of homes around the lakes
from smaller, seasonable cabins to larger,
year-round residences has prompted concern
over the impact on-site septic systems have on
area water quality. In 2002 the state added the
Sauk River Chain of Lakes to the 303(d) list for
impairments from phosphorus.
Project Highlights
The Sauk River Chain of Lakes Watershed
Management Project was initiated in 1997 to
maintain and improve water quality by reduc-
ing the impacts of nonpoint source pollution.
To reduce erosion and phosphorus runoff from
agricultural areas, the project partners installed
and improved 50 agricultural waste storage
facilities, generated more than 40 Manure
Management Plans, installed feedlot filter
strips and retention basins, and enrolled more
than 5,000 acres into the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA)
Conservation Reserve Program. Vegetative
buffer strips were planted and shoreline areas
were restored to prevent erosion along riparian
Vegetative
filter strips,
installed along
shorelines (lower
picture), help
reduce nutrient
transport to the
lakes.
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areas. To address failing septic systems, proj-
ect partners conducted an extensive outreach
and education program to raise awareness
about proper septic system maintenance. Low-
interest loans from the State Revolving Fund
were used to upgrade septic systems for 32
lakeshore residents and 2 resorts.
In addition to efforts to reduce phosphorus
from nonpoint sources, in the early 1990s
the Sauk River watershed was the first
major watershed in the state to implement a
watershed-wide phosphorus discharge limit of
1.0 mg/L for wastewater treatment facilities.
Implementation of this standard contributed
substantially to improvements in the Sauk
River and allowed water quality improvements
from projects made possible by the 319
program to become more evident.
Results
Total phosphorus concentrations have been
reduced in the Sauk River Chain of Lakes from
300 to 1,200 jug/L in 1985 to 176 ji/g/L in 2002
and 2003, representing a 48 percent decrease
in total phosphorus loading. A total maximum
daily load has not yet been developed, but
progress is being made toward the ecore-
gion average goal of 100-150 fig/L for total
phosphorus. This progress has been made in
spite of two decades of wet weather that has
increased average annual flows by 30 percent,
a factor that generally impedes measurement
of improvements in water quality.
Partners and Funding
The Sauk River Watershed District (SRWD)
was the official project sponsor and coor-
dinating agency for the project. The SRWD
worked with the USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS), Stearns
Waste storage facilities at livestock operations help
reduce nutrient runoff to the lakes. Project partners
installed and improved 50 storage facilities.
County Soil and Water Conservation District,
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA),
Minnesota Board of Soil and Water Resources,
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Stearns County
Environmental Services, Sauk River Chain of
Lakes Association, Joint Powers Association,
Pheasants Forever Inc., Farm Service Agency,
Sauk River Chain of Lakes Citizen Steering
Committee (with representatives from the
agricultural community, lakeshore property
owners, and township board members), and
local landowners.
Project costs since 1999 are estimated at
$3.1 million. Section 319 provided $750,000 in
funding to assist farmers with the installation
of agricultural BMPs and the septic system
maintenance education program. Other
funding sources included $201,748 from the
USDA NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives
Program, $258,206 from the Minnesota
state cost-share program, $465,221 from
MPCA Clean Water Partnership funds, and
$1.4 million in loans from the Clean Water Act
State Revolving Fund.
'. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
\ Office of Water
a Washington, DC
EPA841-F-05-004L
August 2005
For additional information contact:
Julie Klocker
Sauk River Watershed District
320-352-6455 • julie@srwdmn.org
Dennis Fuchs
Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District
320-251-7800 (ext. 3) • dennis.fuchs@mn.nacdnet.net
Jeff Hrubes
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
218-828-2227 • jeff.hrubes@state.mn.us
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